Feast of the Saint Andrew, the Apostle

Christ lives in you, his mission continuous through you

Like any of the Apostle, Andrew does not have any outstanding qualification that makes him in any way eligible to be an apostle. Yet the Lord called him into his close circle of friends and entrusted him with the noble task of proclaiming the Good News of Salvation. This is the mystery of the Apostolic calling: out of God’s graciousness and kindness he called individuals not because they are the best and most worthy but rather the Lord filled them with his love and blessings. And this is open for all who is ready and willing to entrust themselves to the Lord. The only thing needed is our full cooperation and yes to the Lord for God will do the rest.
Being an apostle of the Lord does not mean doing complicated things like going to some far away place and meeting different kind of people. The Apostle Andrew has shown us that it is simply bringing someone to Jesus. The Scriptures recorded two occasions during which Andrew brought someone to Jesus.

FIRST, in the Gospel of John, hearing from John the Baptist that Jesus is the Lamb of God, Andrew followed Jesus right away and latter brought his brother Simon to Lord. SECOND, later in the same Gospel of John, some Greeks came to Philip looking for Jesus, he told Andrew and they together told and brought them to the Lord.

These two occasions in a very simple incident tells us very strongly what an APOSTLE of Jesus should be, that is, one that brings people to JESUS. To bring someone to Jesus a person need not do complicated things in his life. That person simply needs to be him or herself, to be true to oneself.

When Andrew brought Peter to Jesus, I do not think he did other things than be a brother to Peter. Andrew simply and plainly told Peter that he had seen the Messiah. It was an honest admission of Andrew to his brother Peter, that at last he found the desire of his heart, the Messiah. Today, the call remains the same for us, like Andrew we are called to share our faith, the desire of our heart to our own family, to the people very close to our hearts, to our dear friends.

The Greeks were foreigners, strangers from the point of view of Andrew. They are the people unrelated to him. Yet when they came to him through Philip he showed them his kindness by telling and bringing them to the Lord. This is also our call, to show others the way to Jesus. That in the many strangers we meet who came across our way we are called to show them Jesus. Interestingly, it does not demand anything more from us than to be truly who we are as Christians. By faithfully living out and witnessing to our Faith in Christ, others will recognize in us Jesus and come to believe in Him.

Sisters and brothers, whatever we do in life and wherever we are as long as we live out our faith and we are faithful to Christ we can be an Apostle like Andrew. Let us then be an Apostle who brings our brothers and sisters, friends and family to Christ. Let our witnessing and faithfulness to Christ also lead others to Christ. As one saying goes, “Christ lives in you, his mission continuous through you.”

Feast of Blessed Maria Virgo

Feast of Blessed Maria Virgo
(Co-foundress of SSpS and SSpSAP)

Good Morning Sisters and Brothers … Let me first greet our beloved Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, both the PINK Sisters and the BLUE Sisters…, HAPPY FEASTDAY…My dear Sisters please allow us to join you in this joyous celebration of the FEAST of your Founder…, BLESSED MARIA VIRGO.
In our reflections today, allow me then to dwell on two significant events in the life of Blessed Maria Virgo which I believe tell us very strongly what Jesus said in the Gospel today: “As the Father loves me, so I love you. Remain in my love.” (Jn 15:9)

FIRST, Blessed Maria Virgo is a person who is totally dependent on God. When Helena was accepted in 1882 by Saint Arnold to come and join the missionary community of the SVD she did not right away become a Missionary Sister. She waited for seven years while working as a maid in the SVD community without any sign of assurance that she’ll ever fulfill her desire of becoming a missionary. Only a person who has entrusted herself totally to God can bear the difficult feeling of uncertainty in waiting. I strongly believe that by her total dependence on God, the different reality she has to embrace must have become for her a test of her faithfulness and love of God. In the end, her long waiting did not end in vain; for it made her be wholeheartedly dedicated to the missionary community she began to build with Saint Arnold and others Sisters.

SECOND, Blessed Maria Virgo is a person fully open to the will of God. Some years after Saint Arnold had opened the contemplative branch of the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters; he asked Blessed Maria Virgo who was then the Superior General of the active branch if she is willing and ready to join the contemplative branch to settle the growing animosities between the two missionary communities. After some discernment, she realized in the founder’s request the will of God. Blessed Maria Virgo then exchanged the blue habit for the pink to start again as a novice of the contemplative missionary community. Such openness to the will of God on the part of Blessed Maria Virgo is truly admirable. Indeed, a person who truly loves God is also a person who is fully open to the will of God.
With these two significant events in the life of Blessed Maria Virgo, we can truly say that to remain in the love of God is to be totally dependent on God and to be fully open to the will of God. What sustained Blessed Maria Virgo during those difficult and challenging moments of her life is none other than her remaining in the love of God. For when God truly becomes part of ones life, then one can strongly say, “There is nothing impossible with God.”

Once again, I invite you to look at the life of Blessed Maria Virgo who by her example of total dependence and openness to God has shown us the basic attitude of a missionary. God is the source and agent of mission. By our calling we participate in the mission of God who made us worthy to share in the noble task of proclaiming the message of salvation to others. In our respective mode of life, may we then give ourselves readily and willingly to the mission of the church by witnessing to our faith and through our works of charity. Amen.

Openness and Confidence at the End of Time

Openness and Confidence at the End of Time

When I was growing up, I often heard that the gesture in many images of Jesus, that is, his raised left hand means that in the year 2000 will be the end of the world. Obviously, it was a mistaken interpretation. Now its 2007 and the end seems to be nowhere in sight. Is it still relevant to discuss and talk about the END of TIME?

In our gospel today, Jesus speaks about the End of Time by means of prophesy of destruction of Jerusalem and he even referred to the some perplexing signs that will precede the end of time. Most often, talks about the End brings out FEAR in us because no one would normally enjoy the sight of death.

Is FEAR the only response and attitude we have in facing the END of TIME. I truly believe Jesus would not even want us to be overwhelmed with fear. Jesus rather tells us “to stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” Let me then share with you two positive attitudes we need to have in facing the coming END suggested by Jesus in our Gospel today.

FIRST, the imminent end points not to the coming of God who was absent but to the constant presence of God in our midst. The END is already here, it has already begun, particularly in the moment of our history when the Son of God becomes one like us. Even if Jesus Christ has ascended to be with the Father, he continued to be with us in His Spirit. Every time we celebrate the Eucharist and in every community gathered in prayer God is present there. God is in our midst so we must rather be confident and sensitive of His presence among us. While we are assured of God’s constant presence, we are at the same time being called to be constantly open and to welcome His presence in the ordinary events and persons that come our way. Again, the END strongly tells us to be confident because God is here with us and asks us to be constantly sensitive in recognizing that presence in our midst.

SECOND, faced with the tribulations and perplexing signs preceding the final end that often overwhelm us with fear; the imminent end rather means the finalization of our redemption. What God has promised us in the coming End is not our DEATH and DESTRUCTION but the fullness of life in the presence of God. Then, the END must be a source of our joy and hope amidst the difficult realities of life we constantly experience in this lifetime. Its like taking the comprehensive exams, although it normally draws out the worst fear in us, yet armed with the volumes of books we have read we are joyful and confidently hopeful of passing. Indeed there is real joy and hope in the coming END.

Complemented by the joy and hope of the coming end, our confidence and sensitivity to the presence of God is all the more heightened. The hope and joy of the end of time inspires us more to recognize God in our midst and celebrate His presence. Here we must remember what Jesus emphatically said in the Matthean vision of the Final Judgment: “What ever you do to the least of these you did it to me.” If we have faith, we can even say, his presence among us is more than enough. It is already a joy to love and serve God in our brothers and sisters. Yet God wanted more for us, He wants us to share God’s full friendship and love at the End of Time. Out of His love God come to be with us to inaugurate the coming of the End, and it is also out of the same love that God calls us all back into His embrace for us to enjoy the fullness of life at the End of Time. Again, in with confidence and sensitivity let us be open to God’s presence in our midst while in joyful hope we await His final return in glory. Amen.

Solemnity of Christ the King

Solemnity of Christ the King

CROWN identifies a King. Jesus is a King and he had a crown but one that is made of thorns. Moreover, he is not seated on a throne but is hanging on the cross. If Jesus is a king, he must be different one. Indeed Christ as King is different from the kings we knew in this world in two ways he exercises his Kingship:

FIRST, Jesus exercises his kingship by dying on the cross. That’s nonsense. No wonder, even the thief crucified along with him mocked him. Now, by dying on the cross, Jesus is saying that his kingship is not about prestige and power but of SERVICE. Jesus said, “I did not come to be served but to serve.” This is why Jesus gives his whole self for others, for sinners and for all of us. His kingship is not only SERVICE but also SACRIFICE.

I remember one of the famous acts of our great and well-loved Pres Magsaysay. When he was elected to the Presidency, the first thing he did was to open the gates of Malacanang t oordinary Filipinos and allowed them to come to him without appointment.

What Pres Magsaysay did is similar to the self-giving and sacrifice for others of Jesus. Like Jesus, he gave all his life in the service of others. What a wonderful country would Philippines be have our leaders been like Magsaysay who spend their life in service and in sacrifice for others as Jesus did.

SECOND, Jesus will exercise his kingship not in this world but in the Kingdom he promised for all of us. Although this Kingdom he inaugurated in this world, its final phase is yet to come. In fact, he died on the cross so for all of us to share in this Kingdom. Jesus’ kingship brings life to the full or eternal life. Look at what he promised to the repentant thief: “today you will be with me in paradise.”

I do not want to constantly compare but I cannot help but ask: Are our leaders providing us ways to enjoy our lives, or at least make it comfortable? I am afraid they are rather making our lives miserable. Just recently, the WB has cancelled a million dollar loan to our government because of irregularities in the bidding of contracts. We have become famous for corruption. Because of this, services are hampered and inefficient.

One person that I really admire is Ninoy. Actually, Ninoy did not have any outstanding accomplishment. But he made a great impact in the lives of many Filipinos. For what we did best was to give hope to our suffering people. No wonder, we remember his words: “Filipinos are worth dying for.” That’s why during his funeral hundreds of thousands and even a million joined the procession of his coffin. Eventually, his memory brought us all to EDSA where we won back our freedom. What Ninoy did for us is the same as how Jesus touched and transformed the lives of his disciples and all Christians. By Jesus’ self-sacrifice on the cross, many were able to regain their life and won back their freedom for such is the grace that flowed from the Christ’s wounded side on the cross.

In effect, if we can say that the Kingship of Christ is built on service and sacrifice and leads to the fullness of life, then Christ our King tells us how God who became like us truly loved us. Christ, is the King who made us valuable in the eyes of God. We honor Christ as our King by the kindness and respect we extend to others. For Jesus emphatically says: “Whatever you do to the least of these, you did it to me.” Moreover, in this community, in the very person you bring in this Church, Christ is honored as King for each of us in the Temple of God. God dwells is when we receive him in the Holy Communion. We recognize His presence in each one of us as our presider greets us: “The Lord be with you!” And as we exchange the peace of Christ.” As followers of Jesus, let us make Christ, the king of our lives. Amen.

32nd Sunday of Odinary Time C

Sa Takdang Panahon
Rev. ARNOLD BIAGO,SVD

Sa imahen ng Kristong Hari makikita na ang mga mga daliri ng nakataas na kaliwang kamay ni Hesus ay nagtatanda (giving signs). Bata pa ako, lagi kong naririnig na ibig sabihin daw nun ay sa year 2000 ang kataposan ng mundo. Year 2007 na ngunit wala namang nagyari. “False Alarm” pala yun…

Ngayon linggo, sa ating ebanghelyo , si Hesus ay malakas na nagbababala laban sa mga “false alarms” at mga “false messiah” na nagsasabig darating na ng katapusan ng mundo. Malakas ang pagtutul ni Hesus sa mga “false alarms” at “false messiahs” sapagkat, walang sinuman ang nakakaalam kung kelan magaganap itong katapusan. At sa kanyang mga pagtuturo, iniwasan ni Hesus sabihin ang eksaktong panahon ng kaganapan nito. Tanging Dios lamang ang nakakalan kung kelan magaganap ang nakatakdang panahon. Sa halip, ang ibinigay ni Hesus ay pagasa, tulad ni Hesus tayo ay mabubuhay muli at mabubuhay ng walang hanggan sa piling ng Dios. Ito ang pangako ni Hesus sa sinumang mananalig sa kanya.

Karaniwan, pag ang pinag-uusapan ay katapusan ng mundo takot ang umiiral sa atin. Subalit ayon sa ating pananampalataya ang takot ay walang lugar sa katapusan ng mundo. Hindi bagay ang takot sa takdang panahong darating. Totoo, nakakatokot isipin na ikaw, ako ay mamamatay. Sabalit sa nakatakdang panahon hindi tayo muling mamatay kundi tayong lahat ay muling mabuhay kasama ang Dios sa langit magpakailanman. (hindi ito katulad ng horror movies na “day of the dead” o zombies, kundi parang buhay sa Disney Land.. Engkantadya kung sa Pilipinas) Imagine… mag fafamily reunion tayo dun.. mula dun sa kalululohan ng lola mu hanggang sa pinakaapo ng iyong apo… diba ang saya..

Subalit sa pagitan ng ating kasalukuyang panahon at sa di natin alam na nakatakdang panahon ay maraming hirap ng buhay ang ating mararanasan. Sabi nga ni Hesus sa ating ebanghelyo ngayon, “darakpin kayo’t uusigin. Kayo’y dadalhin sa mga sinagoga upang litisin at ipabilanggo” at kung anu-anu pang mga pahirap na mararanasan dahil sa ating pananampalataya kay Kristo. Mula noon hanggang ngayon, marami ang nakakaranas ng pahirap dahil sa pananampalataya kay Kristo. Halimbawa sa Middle East, ang mga Pinoy dun na nahuhulihan ng bibliya at Rosary ay kinukulong. Sa China, hanggang ngayon nagtatago ang mga madre at pari doon. Ngunit hindi ibig sabihin nito na malapit na ang katapusan ng mundo. Ang mga paghihirap na ito ay bahagi ng buhay dito sa mundo. Kaya nga tayo’y binigyan ng Dios ay pag-asa: ang mabuhay na muli sa piling ng Dios para palakasin ang ating loob at malampasan ang kahirapan ng buhay.

Ang muling pagkabuhay ang nagbibigay sa atin ng pag-asa sa kabila ng hirap ng buhay na ating nararanasan sa mundong ibabaw. Ganundin sa ating pagtatakang maging mabuting taga-sunod ni Hesu-Kristo, malakas ang ating loob na hamunin ang kasamaan at katiwalian dahil sa pag-asang mamayani ang kabutihan at katarungan ng Dios balang-araw. At naniniwala rin tayo na sa dito sa mundong ibabaw nagsisimula ang langit. Nagyayari ito kung namamayani ang Dios sa ating buhay, at kung buo ang ating pagtitiwala sa Dios. Mahalaga at puno ng kahulugan ang bawat sandali ng ating buhay, sapagkat ito ang batayan at simula ng buhay na walang hanggan.

MAKASAMA ANG DIOS
Rev. ARNOLD C. BIAGO, SVD

Noong isang taon, marami sa mga kaibigan ko dito sa Metro Manila ang nagrerequest, “Pader, pwedi bang magkumspisal sa iyo?” Ang sabi ko naman, “Naku, di pa ako pwedi kasi di naman ako pari, punta ka na lang mga simbahan, may kumpisalan naman dun.” Pero, gusto nila kakilala ko, “Baka meron kang kakilala na pari na pwedi ako magkumpisal?” Dahil nasa seminaryo ako, talagang meron. “Dito sa Tagaytay marami, puntahan mu nga lang.” Dahil kanilang malalim na paghahangad na lumapit at magbalik loob sa Dios, pumupunta pa sila sa Tagaytay para magkumpisal.

Ang mga kaibigan kong ito ay mga makabagong Zacheus na binanggit din sa ating Ebanghelyo ngayon. Katulad ni Zacheus na naghahangad makita si Hesus sila din ay hangad lumapit at makapagbalik-loob sa Dios sa pamamagitan ng Kumpisal. Kung ating titingnan sa ating Ebanghelyo, ang pakikipagtagpo ni Zacheus sa Dios ay dumaraan sa tatlong level:
Una, nagsimula ito sa isang malalim na paghahangad na makita si Jesus. Di man ito nabanggit sa pagbasa subalit makikita ito sa kanyang pagsusumikap at paghahanap ng paraan na makita si Hesus.

Pangalawa, gumawa si Zacheus ng mga hakbang para matupad ang kanyang hangaring makita si Hesus. Umakyat siya sa puno. Sa kanyang katayuan sa lipunan, pag nakita siya ng kanyang mga kaibigan at kakilala, pagtatawanan siya. Binalewala niya ito matupad lamang ang kanyang hangaring makita si Hesus.

Pangatlo, nagkamit siya ng lubos na kaligayahan sa karangalang makasama si Hesus higit pa sa kanyang hinahangad. Ang makita si Hesus ay sapat na para kaya Zacheus, subalit ang nangyari ay higit pa sa inaasahan niya. Lumapit si Hesus sa kanya at hiniling na siya at tutuloy sa kanyang tahanan. Ito ay isang napakalaking karangalan para kay Zacheus.
Kaya bilang tugon sa dakilang pag-ibig na kanyang naranasan mula kay Hesus, nangako siyang ipapamahagi niya ang kanyang yaman. Inamin niyang meron siyang mga nadaya at ipinangako niya na ibabalik ito ng ng apat na beses.

Ganun din po sa ating pakikipagtagpo sa Dios, nauulit ang nangyaring ito kay Zacheus. Sa simula, napupukaw sa atin ang paghahangad na makasama ang Dios, na magbalik-loob sa Dios. Pangalawa, gumagawa tayo ng paraan para matupad ang paghahangad na ito. Pangatlo, napupuno tayo ng kaligayahan sapagkat ang biyaya at pagmamahal ng Dios ay higit pa sa ating inaasahan. At ito ay nakita kwento ng isang Arsobispo ng Paris.

Sabi niya, may tatlong kabataang lalaki na namasyal sa Katedral ng Notre Dame. Sila ay nagkahamunan, kaya isa ay pumunta sa kumpisalan at doon ay nagkunwaring magkumpisal. Napansin ng pari na siya ay niloloko ng nagkukumpisal kaya ang ibinigay niya ang ganitong penance: “Tumayo ko sa harap ng malaking crucifix sa altar, tingnan mu si Hesus sa mata at tatlong ulit na sabihin mu: Ginawa mo yan sa akin? At wala akong pakialam.”

Ang batang lalaki at ang kanyang kaibigan at nagtatawan habang sila ay naglalakad palapit sa sanktuwaryo. Tiningnan niya sa mata si Hesus at sinabi niya: “Ginawa mu yan sa akin? At wala akong pakialam.” Sa pangalawang ulit nanginig na ang kanyang boses: “Ginawa mu yan sa akin? At wa... la akong pakialam.” At sa pangatlong ulit, hindi na niya ito masabi...

Yuko ang kanyang ulo, ang batang lalaki ay bumalik sa kumpisalan at buong-pusong humingi ng pagpapatawad ng Dios. Ang batang lalaking iyong ay naging pari, at kaluunan naging Arsobispo ng Paris, na walang iba kundi ang nagbahagi ng kwentong ito.

Mga kapatid, ang paghahangad na makasama ang Dios ay nakatanim sa ating mga sarili at puso. Buhayin natin ito sa pamamagitan ng paggawa ng hakbang na maranasan ang pagpapatawad at dakilang pagmamahal ng Diyos sa ating mga Sakramento, sa pakikinig at pagninilay sa kanyang Salita, at pagbubukas ng ating sarili na makita ang Dios sa ating kapwa. Ang Dios ay mapagpatawad at mapagmahal. Kaligayahan niya na tayo ay makasama.

Kamatayan at Kabanalan
Rev. ARNOLD C. BIAGO, SVD

Sa France ay napabalita na ang isang binitay na kriminal ay sinisimulang gawing santo. Sa katunayan, ipinag-utos ng Arsobispo ng Paris, Cardinal Lustiger na simulan ang “cause for beatification” ni Jacques Fesch noong 1993. Si Jacques Fesch ay binitay sa kasalanag pagnanakaw sa banko at pagpatay sa isang pulis noong October 1, 1957. Isang taon matapos siyang makulang, dumanas siya ng masinsinang pagbabalik-loob sa Dios na nagpabago ng kanyang buhay at pananaw.

Sa unang tingin, mahirap intindihin kung bakit ang isang kriminal ay gawing santo. Anuman ang mangyari, ang isang kriminal ay talagang kriminal. Subalit kung may tunay na pagbabago at pagbabalik loob sa Dios na naganap sa buhay ng isang tao, hindi malayong mangyari na siya ay kabilang sa mga pinagpala at kalugod-lugod sa Dios, ang mga hinirang na banal ng Dios. Katulad ito ng panyayari sa Kalbaryo kung saan si Dimas sa kanyang pagkilala kay Kristo ay kaagad-agad biniyayaang maging kaisa ng Dios sa kanyang Kaharian sa langit.

Nabanggit ko ang balitang ito sapagkat ang ginugunita natin ngayon ay hindi lang ang kamatayan o mga patay, kundi ang ating pakikiisa sa buhay ng na bigay ng Dios na walang hanggang, ang buhay na pinagpala at kalugod-lugod sa Dios, ang buhay ng isang banal, ng isang Santo. Sa pamamagitan ng kwento ni Jacques Fesch, sinasabi sa atin na ang maging Banal ay hindi para lang sa iilang pinili kundi para sa lahat. Maging anuman ang ating katayuan sa buhay, bata man o matanda, may ngipin o wala, mabait o pasaway, lahat ay tinatawag ng Hesus na makiisa at makibahagi sa buhay kaligtasan sa piling ng Dios Ama.

Kaya masasabi natin na sa “All Saints Day” ipinagdiriwang ng Simbahan,natin, ang kaganapan ng ating mga mithiin at hangarin, balang araw tayong lahat at makikisa sa mga Banal, “communion of saints”. Na sana balang araw lahat tayo ay mapupunta sa langit, doon tayo magrereunion sa Kaharian ng Dios Ama. Sabi nga nila, “Heaven is a perfect place”. Sapagkat, pag nakita mo ang Dios wala ka nang hahanapin pa. Di ka magugutom, di ka matatakot, kumbaga walang katapusang saya at ligaya ang langit. “Sinu ang gustong mapunta ng langit, taas ang kamay?” Yan, lahat tayo hanggad na mapunta sa langit. “Ngayon, sinu ang gustong mauna sa langit? Taas ang kamay!”

Nakakatuwang isipin na walang isang tao na matino ang pag-iisip ang aayaw sa langit at gusto doon sa impiyerno. Lahat gustong mapunta sa langit. Ngunit walang gustong mauna. Lahat takot mamatay. Siguro, dahil di natin sigurado kung doon nga tayo mapupunta.

Kung tayo ay hindi sigurado na mapupunta sa langit, tayo naman ay naniniwala na may mga ilan na ang buhay ay naging kalugod-lugod sa Dios kaya sila ay pinagpapala na maging mga Santo. Kaya ganun na lang ang tuwa at galak ng simbahan na ipagdiwang ang “All Saints Day” bilang pakikiisa sa pagsasaya ng langit sa pagkakaroon ng mga bagong kasama. Ang mga santo ay binubuo opisyal na tala ng Simbahang Katolika, ang Roman Martyrology, na may nakalistang humigit sa 7,000 na mga santo; di pa kabilang dito ang mga nabuhay nang banal sa lahat ng panahon na tumugon at sumunod sa kagustuhan ng Dios na hindi natin kilala. Maari na kasama dito ang ating mga mahal sa buhay. Kung hindi man, umaasa tayo sa awa ng Dios na balang araw siya ay mapapabilang dito. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit natin ipinagdarasal ang mga kaluluwa, at kung bakit natin ginugunita ang araw ng mga patay pag “All Souls Day.”

Ipinagdiriwang din nating ang “All Saints Day” bilang pagkilala sa kadakilaan at dangal ng Inang Simbahan na siyang bukal ng kabanalan at nagluwal sa mga taong Banal na huwaran sa kanilang kalugod-lugod na buhay pagtalima sa kalooban ng Dios. Subalit, kailangan ba talagang kilalanin at bigyan ng parangal ang mga Santo? Total patay na naman sila, di na nila malalaman ang ating pagkilala sa kanilang mga kabutihan. Ang katulad na tanong ay nabanggit ni St. Bernard sa simula ng kanyang sermon para din sa “All Saints Day.” Sa kanyang pagpapatuloy ng sermon, sinabi niya, “Hindi kailangan ng mga Santo ang mga binibigay nating parangal sa kanila, maging ang ating mga dasal ay hindi makakadagdag sa biyayang nasa kanila na. Subalit habang sinusuri ko ang kanilang buhay, napupukaw sa aking katauhan ang hangaring matulad sa kanila.”

Mga kapatid, ang ating pagdiriwang para sa lahat ng mga Banal sa Langit ay walang ibang layunin kundi pukawin sa ating puso at buong katauhan ang paghahangad na mapabilang sa hanay ng mga Banal sa piling Dios. Walang silbi ang ating buhay kung hindi ito nakaugat sa Dios. Ang buhay ay puno ng kahulugan sa piling ng Dios. Mabuti na rin na walang gustong mauna sa langit, sapagkat ang kaganapan ng isang buhay sa piling ng Dios ay nagsisimula dito at ngayon. Paanu ang mapabilang sa hanay ng mga Banal, ang mabuhay sa piling ng Dios? Una, di kailangan ng malawak na kakayahan o kakaibang talino. At ikalawa, buong pusong makinig at sumunod kay Kristo na handang harapin ang anumang hirap at pasakit. Katulad ng isang butil, kailangan niyang matuyo at mabulok sa lupa para sumibol ang isang bagong buhay mula sa kanya.

Kaya ngayong panahon ng Undas, sa ating pagunita sa mga pumanaw, nawa makita natin na ang kanilang kamatayan ay daan tungo sa kaganapan ng buhay sa piling ng ating mapagpatawad at mapagmahal na Dios. At patuloy din tayong magdasal para sa lahat na yumao upang sa pagsapit ng takdang panahon, magkasama-sama ang lahat ng mga banal. Para sa ating lahat, kumuha tayo ng lakas ng loob sa mga halimbawa ng buhay ng mga hinirang ng Dios na Banal sa ating pagsunod sa kay Kristo. Marami man tayong mga pagkukulang at mahirap man ang sundan si Kristo umaasa tayo na siya ay kasama natin sa sa lahat ng pagkakataon.